Voters Shy Away on Spain Split

In Election, Support Wanes for Catalan Leader Urging a Referendum on Wealthy Region's Independence

By

Jonathan House and

Matt Moffett

Updated Nov. 26, 2012 10:55 a.m. ET

BARCELONA, Spain—Voters in parliamentary elections in Spain's wealthy Catalonia region issued a rebuke to the leader who had sought to become the standard-bearer for forces seeking to secede from Spain, even as the ballot gave broad backing to pro-independence parties.

Analysts said the disappointing showing by the party headed by Catalonia's current leader, Artur Mas, could take some of the steam out of the independence movement in...